Research on the biological effects of ionizing radiation is being supported or conducted by the following departments and agencies: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Bureau of Standards DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Office of Health Research, Statistics, and Technology National Center for Health Statistics Center for Disease Control National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Food and Drug Administration Bureau of Radiologic Health National Institutes of Health DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION VETERANS ADMINISTRATION , EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH DATE: OCT 4 gre The exceptionally tight schedule we have accepted to develop a Federal strategy on research into the biological effects of ionizing radiation requires that we proceed expeditiously. Accordingly, I will convene the first meeting of the Subcommittee as follows. Our goal for Tuesday is to structure a meeting of non-Federal To meet this responsibility, the Subcommittee must accomplish a 1. Review the draft strategy distributed at the cammittee meeting 2. Identify non-Federal consultants (3-6 in each primary research area identified in the strategy) to meet on November 7. 3. Prepare a list of prospective authors for position papers covering Page 2 - Subcommittee to develop Federal Research Strategy into Biological Effects of ionizing Radiation While for tasks 2 and 3 you should be prepared to name scientists that will address research issues of importance to your agency, you can feel free to consider the needs of other Federal programs. NIH will assume responsibility for logistic support of the November conference and, I would anticipate that subcommittee members will all play vital parts in that meeting. The actual roles can be defined with greater precision at our meeting on October 9, or at such subsequent meetings as the Subcommittee deems necessary. For your convenience, I am enclosing copies of the relevant material distributed at the meeting of the parent committee on September 25. I hope you understand the issues which prompt me to move ahead with such urgency. We all have a vital stake in the success of the final product. Scientific Issues and Questions 1. Risk Factors - Populations (High risk) 2. Interpretation of In Vitro Cell Testing - Extrapolation from in vitro to in vivo 3. Repair - Dose rate issues, temporal effects (latent periods) 4. Animals to Humans - Proper choice of models 5. Epidemiology - What can and cannot be done 6. Synergisms and Antagonisms 7. Nature of Dose Response Curves - Projection models 8. Radiation Quality - LET problem 9. Precursor Injury and Repair 10. Non-cancer and Non-genetic Effects 11. Dose Rate Issues - Cumulative dose, fractionation 12. Treatment - Prophylaxis, therapy Draft Outline Federal Strategy for Research Into the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation 1. Radiation Physics A. Macrodosimetry - time and space relations II. Radiation chemistry and radiation modifiers in biological systems A. Damage and repair processes (normal and tumor cells) 1. cell killing 4. developmental processes D. Genetic determinants A. Chromosome breakage humans (EFESTH) 1. background genetic disease A. Cancer 1. tissue and cell sensitivity, inducibility, incidence time course of events EFESTH dose rate, radiation quality |